Mandzukic scores 2 as Croatia beats Cameroon 4-0

Mandzukic scores 2 as Croatia beats Cameroon 4-0

June 18th, 2014by Associated Press in Local - Breaking News

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic (17) waves to the referee after Croatia's Ivica Olic, right, scored his side's first goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Cameroon and Croatia at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Wednesday, June 18, 2014.

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic (17) waves to the referee...

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

MANAUS, Brazil - Mario Mandzukic scored two goals Wednesday to keep Croatia in the mix at the World Cup with a 4-0 win over 10-man Cameroon, which cannot now advance from the group stage.

Mandzukic, who returned to the team at the Arena da Amazonia after sitting out the opening loss to Brazil through suspension, headed in a corner from Danijel Pranjic in the 61st minute and then knocked in a rebound in the 73rd of the Group A game.

Ivan Perisic also scored one goal and made another for Ivica Olic.

Cameroon was reduced to 10 men after midfielder Alex Song was given a red card for elbowing Mandzukic in the back in an off-the-ball incident in the 40th minute.

The team started without the injured Samuel Eto'o, the team's best player.